[Python] Python's regular expression: Non greedy optional group followed by another optional...

I am using the following regular expression in python: ^( .+?)?( Com:.*)?$

(This regex might look dumb but it's actually part of a bigger more complex string, I have just extracted the problematic part.)

And I have those 2 different strings:

1. abc Com: 123
2. Com: 123

With the first string, group 1 matches only " abc" and group 2 matches " Com: 123". This is what I expect since group 1 is non greedy.

However with the second string, I would expect group 1 to match nothing and group 2 to match again " Com: 123". But no, group 1 matches the entire string and group 2 nothing. I don't get it.

What's going on here? Could someone explain?

Here is the link to the regex: https://regex101.com/r/E4idh8/2

Thanks in advance

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